Cost of Living Comparison Between San Luis Obispo, CA and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between San Luis Obispo, CA and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,517 per month in San Luis Obispo, CA vs $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,129 per month in San Luis Obispo, CA vs $2,348 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,742 per month in San Luis Obispo, CA vs $3,327 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

San Luis Obispo, CA costs about 157% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both San Luis Obispo, CA and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – San Luis Obispo, CA by 157%, Ubud, Bali by 0%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Luis Obispo, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.86 $21.86
$3.44 Rp 60.9K
535.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.1 $60.1
$36.31 Rp 643.0K
65.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.80 $11.80
$5.71 Rp 101.0K
106.65%
Cappuccino
$5.87 $5.87
$2.67 Rp 47.3K
119.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 $2.77
$1.75 Rp 31.0K
58.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$0.87 Rp 15.4K
168.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.11 $8.11
$2.95 Rp 52.3K
174.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.13 $8.13
$4.52 Rp 80.0K
79.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Luis Obispo, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
-29.63%
White Bread (500g)
$4.37 $4.37
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
87.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.02 $4.02
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
262.16%
Eggs
$4.50 $4.50
$2.20 Rp 39.0K
104.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.67 $15.67
$17.69 Rp 313.3K
-11.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.71 $8.71
$4.10 Rp 72.5K
112.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.35 $15.35
$12.18 Rp 215.6K
26.03%
Apples (1kg)
$3.81 $3.81
$3.71 Rp 65.6K
2.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.59 Rp 28.1K
24.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.30 $3.30
$2.28 Rp 40.4K
44.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$1.95 Rp 34.6K
66.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$1.91 Rp 33.7K
45.03%
Onion (1kg)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
19.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.09 $2.09
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
106.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$0.55 Rp 9,773
254.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.60 $11.60
$2.23 Rp 39.5K
420.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.30 $15.30
$23.07 Rp 408.6K
-33.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.42 Rp 42.8K
-27.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 $3.13
$3.00 Rp 53.1K
4.33%
🚌 Getting Around
San Luis Obispo, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.87 $1.87
$0.27 Rp 4,814
592.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$61.1 $61.1
$8.98 Rp 159.1K
579.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.54 $3.54
$0.48 Rp 8,566
637.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.78 $2.78
$0.43 Rp 7,679
546.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.48 $30.48
$5.64 Rp 99.9K
440.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.40 $1.40
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
75.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K $37.1K
$24.9K Rp 441.7M
48.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$31.7K Rp 561.5M
-17.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Luis Obispo, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$246 $246
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
201.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.80 $47.80
$6.49 Rp 115.0K
636.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.4 $69.4
$18.77 Rp 332.4K
269.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Luis Obispo, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.74 $42.74
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
-24.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.3 $50.3
$18.73 Rp 331.7K
168.34%
Cinema Ticket
$12.49 $12.49
$4.54 Rp 80.4K
175.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Luis Obispo, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,857 $1,857
$481 Rp 8.5M
286.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$34.3K $34.3K
$5,711 Rp 101.1M
499.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Luis Obispo, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.4 $60.4
$45.52 Rp 806.0K
32.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.17 $49.17
$35.88 Rp 635.4K
37.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
26.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 $101
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
28.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Luis Obispo, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,642 $2,642
$1,115 Rp 19.7M
137.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 $2,090
$698 Rp 12.4M
199.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,027 $5,027
$3,637 Rp 64.4M
38.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,703 $3,703
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
113.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,396 $7,396
$2,784 Rp 49.3M
165.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,685 $6,685
$2,290 Rp 40.5M
191.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Luis Obispo, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,597 $5,597
$168 Rp 3.0M
3231.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.1
13.78
-55.73%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for San Luis Obispo, CA: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,642 in San Luis Obispo, CA versus $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 3231% higher in San Luis Obispo, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in San Luis Obispo, CA versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $377 vs $295 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
San Luis Obispo, CA vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, San Luis Obispo, CA or Ubud, Bali?
San Luis Obispo, CA costs about 157% more than Ubud, Bali, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in San Luis Obispo, CA and in Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,276 per month in San Luis Obispo, CA and $2,052 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, San Luis Obispo, CA or Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in San Luis Obispo, CA compared to Ubud, Bali?
Public transport costs about 580% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in San Luis Obispo, CA and in Ubud, Bali?
Kindergarten costs $1,857 per month in San Luis Obispo, CA and $481 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in San Luis Obispo, CA or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,368, than in San Luis Obispo, CA at $3,517. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Luis Obispo, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, San Luis Obispo, CA or Ubud, Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,368 versus $3,517 in San Luis Obispo, CA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is San Luis Obispo, CA compared to Ubud, Bali?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to San Luis Obispo, CA or to Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Luis Obispo, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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